RI not need Australia's advice: Diplomat

RI not need Australia's advice: Diplomat

JP/AUSTRALIA

RI doesn't need Australia's advice: Diplomat

The Jakarta Post Jakarta

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs rebuked the Australian government on Friday, saying that Indonesia did not need a third country's advice on whether the government should ask for help to address terrorism.

"Indonesia can actually make up its own mind on how to further cooperation with another country," ministry spokesman Marty Natalegawa, told The Jakarta Post in a telephone interview on Friday.

Marty underlined that Indonesia was satisfied with its cooperation with both Australia and the United States in the fight against terrorism.

Agency France Presse reported from Sydney that Australia had urged the United States to take a more active role in providing financial support and training in antiterrorism efforts by Southeast Asian nations, particularly Indonesia.

In a submission to a parliamentary inquiry into Australia-U.S. security ties, the government strongly supported the U.S. commitment to the Asia-Pacific, but said it wanted more back-up in the region.

"The bilateral relationships the U.S. maintains with regional states, including ourselves are central to regional stability in the Asia Pacific," said the submission, posted this week on the parliament website.

But it added that "in terms of the war on terror, Australia remains particularly keen to see more U.S. engagement in Southeast Asian region."

"Australia and the U.S. can cooperate in providing support to regional agencies to combat terrorism."

"The very proximity of Australia to terrorist-threatened nations in Southeast Asia means that a ready first-response neighbor is on hand to help in crisis situations," the submission said, citing help by the Australian army and police after the Bali bombings which claimed 202 lives in October 2002.

"As the U.S. and Australia keep an unswerving eye on other areas of concern in Asia ... and on the global threats of terrorism and weapons proliferation that affect the Asia-Pacific region, we can each draw comfort from knowing the other's commitment to this region reinforces our own."

The experiences of Americans and Australians cooperating in Afghanistan and training together in 37 major military exercises over the past two years meant each had a good idea of the other's capabilities and contributions when setting up coalitions.

"This confidence level in each other's abilities has also allowed the U.S. to play a supporting or non-military role in some recent regional conflicts, deferring to the Australians' professionalism and keen understanding of the region," it added.

Defense minister Robert Hill told The Australian newspaper that Canberra wanted to have Washington more heavily engaged in supporting counterterrorism efforts in Indonesia.

"The U.S. is a force for stability, and in Indonesia, for example, we would like to see them be even more active in what they are doing," Hill said.